Networking

The gospel of Christ not only brings good news of God’s grace for undeserving people, it also transforms the way we relate to each other and our world

Message Notes:

Title: Networking

Summary: The gospel advances as we proclaim Jesus together and give God the glory

Key Scripture: Romans 16:1-27

Outline:

How can we be effective in our ministry?

Serve on A Team (Romans 16:1-16)

_________________ (16:1-2)

______________________ (16: 3-7)

__________________________ (16:8-16)

Be Alert to the _________________ (Romans 16:17-23)

Good News is ______________ and brings God Glory (Romans 16:25-27)

Discussion Guide:

CONNECTING:

If you are working outside the home, talk about what you appreciate about your fellow employees and employer. What do you like most about your workplace?

Randy mentioned how Stonebridge will seek to reach out to our community in the coming year. What do you like about it? What is challenging to you?

UNDERSTANDING:

Read Romans 16:1-16. How would you describe the people Paul greets in Rome? How did he know them since he’d never been there? What characterizes these folks and which description do you like most?

Read Romans 16:17-20. Why does Paul need to add a word of warning? What is going wrong and how are they to guard against it? What encouragement does he give in verse 20 (read Genesis 3:15)? Why are the people Paul mentions in 16:21-23 a good example to follow?

What is God able to do and how does he do it (Romans 16:25-27)? Why does all the glory go to our wise God at the end of this letter (16:27)?

LIVING:

As you think through the list of people Paul mentioned in 16:1-16, how does this influence you to pray for your friends and family members?

In what ways might we pretend to be growing Christians but actually be serving ourselves? How does this cause division in our church when we do this (16:17-20)?

How has Romans moved you to praise God and be more deeply committed to living for his glory (16:25-27)? Read these verses aloud and pray through them with your group or family.

Assignment:Talk with your family or LIFE Group. How has Romans 12-16 (past 9 messages) led you to:

Love God more?

Enjoy your identity as God’s child in greater ways?

Helped motivate you to offer yourself as a living sacrifice in new ways?

What’s Happening

Easter is the true meaning of hope. And we want to spread it all over our community. Join us as we point people to Jesus and share His message of hope with them!

Carry the Cross

Groups from the church hold crosses with encouraging and truth-filled messages (like He is Risen, Jesus Lives, Only One Way, etc.) at various intersections throughout the city of Cedar Rapids on the Saturday of Easter weekend. Carry the Cross is meant to cause people to stop and think about the true meaning of Easter as they see various signs throughout town which proclaim the message of Christ. It is also inspires those holding the crosses to step out in courage and identify with Christ in a public way. March 31: Meet at the church at 9:00 AM. Take a cross and go to a designated area of the city. Hold the cross at that spot for 2 hours. Join together back at the church around noon for pizza and a time to share your experience. Please let us know if you plan to attend.

Prayer Walk

Join with others to pray for our city and those who are seeing the crosses and receiving the hope baskets. Prayer walkers will meet at the church and divide into groups. Each group will be given a suggested area to walk throughout the city (near one of the carry the cross stations). Walkers should be able bodied and dressed appropriately for the weather.

Hope Baskets

Nearly everyone in our culture has been touched by cancer in some way. This Easter we want to send our love and the hope of Jesus to those currently hospitalized due to cancer. We plan to put together Easter “Hope” Baskets filled with cards, healthy snacks for the patient and their families and a few novelty items. Baskets will be delivered on Easter weekend Saturday to:

The Dennis & Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy

Hall-Perrine Cancer Center

Helen G. Nassif Community Cancer Center

Mercy Hospital

University of Iowa Children’s Hospital

Easter Services

Good Friday: 6:30 PM

Easter: Saturday 5 PM, Sunday 9 AM & 10:45 AM

Join our next YouVersion Bible Reading Plan “Love to the Uttermost: Holy Week with John Piper”

Love to the Uttermost is a devotional spanning from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday (Begins Sunday, March 25) Click here to join!